Gary F. Zech, 70, of Austin, Minnesota, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin.

He was born Feb. 12, 1945, in Kingman, Arizona, to Frederich and Joyce (Peterson) Zech. He graduated from Austin High School in 1963. Gary married Cynthia Miller on Nov. 28, 1965, at the Congregational Church in Hollandale, Minnesota. He served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1967. After the Navy, he returned home to Austin where he worked for the George A. Hormel Company until the strike in 1985. He then went to work for the Minnesota Department of Transportation until he retired in 2011.

Gary was a member of the American Legion, Austin Post No. 91, the P9 United Support Group, and was a member and past president of the AFSCME local union. He loved the outdoors, camping and trout fishing. He enjoyed watching NASCAR and any kind of car racing. He loved to tinker with things and could fix almost anything.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Gary is survived by his wife, Cindy Zech, Austin, Minnesota; son, James Zech, Minneapolis, Minnesota; sister, Betty Lees, Coon Rapids, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Twyla Adams, Phoenix, Arizona; nieces and nephews: Mark Lees, Elk River, Minnesota, Sara (Mike) Wessel, Blaine, Minnesota, Lisa Adams, Phoenix, Arizona, Shelli Adams, Belmont, Ohio, and Susan Adams, Belmont, Ohio; great nieces and nephews; and aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel in Austin with the Rev. Karen Behling officiating. Music will be by Neal Erickson. Visitation will be on Wednesday at the mortuary for one hour before the service. Honorary bearers will be John Detwiler, Bertie Ferguson, Chuck Frein, Bill Carroll, Mark Lees, Sara Wessel, and Rick Lechner. There will be a committal service at Graceland Cemetery in Albert Lea following the memorial service and reception. American Legion Austin Post No. 91 is in charge of military rites.